News

Golden Gate Bridge climber found at top of south tower

By Sean Maher

Oakland Tribune

Posted:
08/03/2012 07:25:31 AM PDT

Updated:
08/03/2012 11:40:15 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- A man who climbed the Golden Gate Bridge and eluded police Thursday night was found at the top of the south tower and taken into custody shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

The man survived cold and fog overnight, and had climbed to the very top of the tower, about 500 feet above the bridge and 750 feet above the bay.

A standoff began early Thursday evening after police received reports around 6:15 p.m. that the man had climbed a portion of the south tower.

There had been some confusion over whether the man had a gun when negotiators last spoke with him at about 8 p.m. Thursday, California Highway Patrol Officer Diana McDermott said.

Heavy fog made it impossible to search effectively overnight.

The CHP shut down all traffic in both directions on the Golden Gate Bridge starting at about 8:30 a.m. Friday, when fog at the north tower lifted. Traffic reopened about 10 minutes later, McDermott said.

About an hour after that, the fog had lifted at the south tower, allowing officers to safely climb it, she said. They discovered the man at about 9:50 a.m., she said.

Medics were on the scene to see if the man needed any care, either physical or mental, she said. It was not immediately clear whether he will face charges.

The man had told police by phone that he was armed, San Francisco police Officer Gordon Shyy said. When the man had climbed down Thursday night, close enough for officers to approach him, their own guns drawn, the man climbed back up. The officers did not see the man brandish a gun, Shyy said.